Friday, February 14, 2014

Today has been a great day. Not only is it Valentine's Day, but I woke up to a huge package sitting on my kitchen table! Now if you've been reading one of my blogs, you'll know that I was sent these little bottles filled with a mystery hair care brand that was being launched in Canada (refresh your brain by clicking here)! As Influenster members, we were asked to use the L'Oreal mystery brand for one week (or until the product ran out) and then let you, our readers, know what we thought. After the time elapsed, we would be sent the products in their full size for review!

Before I dive into this review, I just wanted to let everyone know that this is 100% from the heart. Although these products were sent to me complimentary and for testing purposes, this in no way reflects my views on the products. All reviews are honest and sincere - I do this for you!

And the #MysteryBrand was Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser! I'm going to be honest and say that near the end of the week when more people started posting their reviews, I did read them and see what the general consensus on the product was. I have purchased Garnier products in the past but they have never been a staple in my shower. Their owner, L'Oreal, is used by me in many different departments (most notably, my hair colour) and I have had zero complaints with any of their products. So if this is one of their creations, it's bound to be good!

My hair is a breed of it's own. I'm straightening it one day and curling it the next. It's constantly being pulled back into pony tails when I'm at the gym and sometimes, I swear it has a mind of it's own. Damage and split ends are a constant problem for me. If anyone questions that, I simply tell them to go look at the remains of my hair left in my hairbrush. This product was the perfect match for my hair and it really did some great things for my distressed locks. <3 at first wash sort of thing!

The box that I received contained some super spiffy looking products in bottles that are an out of this world orange colour. The box contained 3 out of the 4 products that were sent to us Influensters in the #MysteryBox and one other product that was not! The two largest bottles (384mL) contain the shampoo and conditioner. The split end bandage is housed in a convenient 184mL pump bottle and the reconstructing butter comes in a colossal sized mini tub. The Garnier Fructis Damage eraser uses a phyto-keratin complex and cupuacu butter to reconstruct hair by up to 90% as well as prevents further damage of those luscious locks.

If you were like me, you were probably wondering what the heck cupuacu (koo-poo-ahh-soo!) butter was and why you were putting it onto your head. A cupuacu fruit is commonly found in the Amazon (regions like Peru, Brazil etc.). It's noted that the fruit smells like a cross between a pineapple and chocolate. I can confidently say that it makes the entire hair care line smell divine. It's listed as a powerful antioxidant was a whole list of valuable nutrients that help in every department. Garnier hit the nail on the head with this one! If you want to know what it looks like, it resembles a potato.

After I got home from the gym this evening, I went straight to the shower and pulled out all of my products. So this review is going to be based on my immediate results, however, I do know how the product works over a period of time. The shampoo felt like any other shampoo to me but the one thing I did notice was the insane lather. A little bit goes a long way with this. I have long blonde hair that is down to about my tail bone and it took me a while to get through the little sample bottle that I was sent. It left my hair smelling amazing and I kind of just stood there for a minute and smelled myself. Amazing.

What really blew me away was the conditioner. I'm a huge fan of instant touchable softness and this was one of the only drug store conditioners that gave me that. Combined with the shampoo, this allowed for a brush to slide with ease through my hair. For once, I wasn't seeing insane fall out at the bottom of my shower. One tip, I love to let this conditioner sit in my hair for a while to really get the full effect. If you're having issues with split ends, concentrate the product on your ends!

The third product that was sent to me from Influenster to initially try was the split end serum. I used it with the other products send and found that my split ends were drastically reduced. I'm used to having the split ends where I can physically break them in two. Looking through my hair as I write this, there are significantly less. I'm not big on leave in treatments simply because I'm always afraid they're going to leave my hair greasy. What I like about this one is it's specially formulated for the ends of your hair. The bottle instructs to apply on towel dried hair. This is important because if your hair is too wet, I found that the product didn't seem to fully sink into my hair. Once again, the smell is divine.

Last but definitely not least, and probably my second favourite item in this box, is the strength reconstructing butter. Like I said, not a huge fan of leave in treatments but this one is applied and left in for 3-5 minutes then rinsed out. A tip, I like to apply this outside of my shower and then slip on one of those clear caps. The big thing with this one for me was the immediate shine it created. You could see my hair shine from down the road. I usually have dull blonde hair but this seemed to give my hair a little oomph and life that it was seriously lacking. I use a decent about of this product simply because I have long hair. Ensure that you cover your entire head when you use this one! This was the one product that was only included in the full size box, so I have yet to experience a weeks worth of results with this one! But I'm super impressed immediately!

My verdict is a positive one. Coming from someone who has dull, damaged, dry hair - this was a lifesaver. The smell took me away to a place where cupuacu trees are a plenty and the product brought my hair back to life. If I were to rank each product on a scale of 1 (the best) to 4 (not necessarily the worst, but my least used) it would look something like this:

Conditioner

Strength Reconstructing Butter

Shampoo

Split End Serum

Am I likely to re-purchase products from this box? Of course. I think I've met my perfect hair care match! Thanks Garnier, Influenster and L'Oreal Canada for the introduction!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

What is it? It’s a MYSTERY! I’ve been a member of the website Influenster for a while now and recently received an email saying I had been shortlisted for their new VoxBox campaign! I was so excited to fill out the survey, but to my disappointment, was told that I was not a proper fit for their campaign.

However … a week and a few days later I walked upstairs to see that my mailman had delivered a little red VoxBox to my door! Sneaky sneaky! Inside were three sample size bottles of a mystery L’Oreal product. Immediately I popped each one open and they smelled divine. After the initial unboxing happiness wore off, I finally got to the instructions.

A frontrunner in haircare, global brand L’Oreal sent out samples of their newest haircare creation to 1000 lucky Influensters! The paper included says that this product contains curuapu butter and phyto-keratin complex and that’s it. Still no idea what the brand or product is inside these little bottles but I do know that they made my hair smell and feel AMAZING!

I have super dry and long hair that is pretty damaged from all the things it goes through. It was refreshing to wash my hair with the shampoo and conditioner and feel the immediate softness. The split end serum is to be applied after you towel dry your hair. I’m always scared that products like these are going to make my hair greasy but this one didn’t at all! I applied it to the ends of my hair and then wrapped them up in a towel for a little bit to let the product sink in. After a few days of using the entire line, my hair is a new person (if that’s a thing). My split ends are totally clearing up and my hair has touchable softness to it.

I can’t wait to see what the product in these bottles is! Thanks Influenster!

** This product was received complimentary by Influenster for testing purposes. All views are my own.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Before I start, yeah I know I'm a bad blogger. School and life in general just caught up with me and this blog took a back seat (again). Sometimes my brain genuinely runs out of things to blog about - so, if you have any things or topics that you'd like me to cover, comment below!

With winter comes a lot of different things - snow, cold weather, hockey and if you're me, insanely chapped lips. When I say chapped, I mean to the point of bleeding. It's absolutely horrible and it's something that I always try to prevent from happening. This post just includes some of the things that I use to keep my lips 'always kissable'. These are what I'd consider to be some holy grail products!

Blistex Lip Medex - I use this stuff religiously when my lips get to the point of bleeding. This would be considered the first step in repairing. Although it does burn a little, I promise you it works and it repairs your lips to what they used to be. One thing, try as hard as you can not to pick the dead/dry skin from your lips. I know it might be tempting, and I do it too, but it really delays the process and creates open vessels for unwanted icky things to seep into. I apply this stuff morning and night and wear it alone. It's especially great if you are heading outside in this polar vortex weather!

LUSH Lip Scrub - pictured is Santa's, which is cola flavoured, but any lip scrub will do. To use, I take a pea sized amount and smudge it all over my lips. Using an old toothbrush, I gently rub the scrub onto my lips for a generous amount of time. If you don't have an old toothbrush, just smush your lips together as if you were applying lipstick. Rinse (or lick) off. A fairly coarse sugar scrub is great for getting rid of the dead skin without causing bleeding.

EOS Lip Balm in Blueberry/Acai - these little things are rich with jojoba and vitamin e. Great for when you're in a rush leaving the house or just to keep in your bag. They're in a neat little sphere shape and this makes applying them super easy. Plus the flavours are delicious.

Vaseline Lip Therapy - If you prefer the more traditional route, Vaseline makes these little mini tubs specially formulated for your lips. I apply this right before I go to bed and wake up with definite softer lips. If you can't find the lip therapies, just use plain old Vaseline!

Friday, August 30, 2013

For some of you, school may have already started. Last year was my first year at university and it was definitely quite the experience. After spending one year away at school, I realized that there are some things I cannot live without. I found myself reaching for these items everyday on campus. I've compiled a small list with seven items that I loved and used everyday. Hopefully some of these find their way into your bookbag!

Computer: If you're like me, you live on it. Recently I picked up a MacBook Pro and I can confidently say that it has been the best decision I have ever made. It's great for taking quick notes in class, recording a lecture or even making up a presentation. Although they can be quite expensive, they are worth the investment. You don't need to own a MacBook! HP, Dell and Toshiba make excellent computers with a variety of options that are sure to suit your needs! Always go to your local computer store and ask them what they think is best for you.

Agenda (Louis Vuitton Medium Ring): Keep track of your everyday schedule by writing it down. While modern technology makes it possible to sync everything up, I find appointments and dates stick better in my head when I actually write them down. Lilly Pulitzer makes some amazing planners as well as Victorias Secret. If you're looking for an even cheaper option, check the dollar store or your local Wal-Mart. I prefer planners that are leather bound with pockets because I am a keeper of all little things. The LV Monogram agenda above fits perfectly inside my Speedy 30!

Book Bag (Michael Kors Medium Jet Set Tote): The main goal when it comes to a book bag, is comfort. Look for something that is easy to carry but still manages to hold all your items. A bag that sits over your shoulder can be both stylish and convenient. If you're looking for something to hold heavier textbooks, consider a backpack with proper support.

Watch: This is kind of an odd object to add to the list, but for me it was a lifesaver. While I'm able to grab my phone and take a quick glance, there are times when a watch is just that much better. Plus, I'm a huge watch fanatic so any day that I get to adorn my wrist with something new is great.

Spiral Ring Notebook: While you're able to take notes on a computer, sometimes it's just easier to write them down. Look for a spiral ring notebook that allows for pages to be turned with ease. This makes writing more comfortable. Hilroy makes cheap subject notebooks that can usually be found on sale.

Travel Mug: For those early morning classes. A cup of coffee stays that much warmer when it's sitting in an insulated travel mug. Careful when bringing them to lectures, some professors prefer no food and drink in lecture halls.

Computer Case: Kind of a no brainer! A nice computer deserves a nice place to rest. Marc Jacobs makes my favourite cases that are easy to carry and fit inside most bags and backpacks.

Those are just a few of the items that you can see me with around campus! Hopefully all of you have an excellent school year and I wish you all the best!

Hayley. 19. Canada. Currently I'm studying in university to become a police office and in four short years I will be receiving my bachelors degree. I've got a serious case of wanderlust and travelling is one of my favourite things to do. I can’t get through the day without my coffee. 80s music is pretty much all that I listen to. I have three cats and they are the best things in the world. Dreams come true with a little bit of hard work